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DST-NSF S&T COOPERATION PROGRAMME
FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS
GENERAL INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
1. INTRODUCTION
The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India and National Science Foundation (NSF) of the USA are collaborating partners on a programme of co-operation in the areas of science & technology with the following objectives:
· To facilitate interactions between the scientists and engineers of India and USA for mutual benefit.
· To promote research in emerging and front-line areas of science and engineering including multi-disciplinary fields.
· To encourage young scientists and engineers to take up research and development in challenging areas by enhancing their capabilities through international collaborations.
DST - NSF S&T Co-operation Programme covers the following activities:
· Joint research
· Joint workshops
A joint research proposal must establish a need for collaboration and mutuality of benefits. Before planning or submitting a proposal for joint workshop, a consultation with DST is desirable, as allocation for this activity is limited.
2. WHO CAN SUBMIT A PROPOSAL
Scientists and engineers from universities, their affiliated colleges, deemed universities, autonomous research institutions and industrial R&D units can submit a proposal.
3. WHEN TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL
Ten copies of the proposal in the prescribed format can be submitted twice during the year. The deadlines for the two slots are 1st September and 1st February each year.
4. AREAS OF RESEARCH SUPPORT
At present almost all the areas of S&T are eligible for support. However NSF does not normally support technical assistants, pilot plant effort, and research requiring security classification, development of products for commercial marketing or market research for a particular product or invention. NSF also does not normally support bio-science research with disease related goals, including work on the etiology, diagnosis or treatment of physical or mental disease, abnormality or malfunction in human beings or
animals. Animal models of such conditions or the development of drugs or other procedures for their treatment are normally not eligible for NSF support. If you are planning to submit a proposal which may fall in one of the above given categories, please request your USA collaborator to establish contact with the NSF to ascertain eligibility of your proposal before submitting it to DST. Similarly, course and curriculum development, law and social sciences, political science, economics etc. are normally not eligible for support from DST, though they may be eligible for support from NSF. The point to note is, a collaborative proposal has to fulfil eligibility criteria of both DST and NSF to be acceptable for consideration under this programme.
5. COMPONENTS OF GRANT
Costs related to international travel to the USA and associated domestic travel within India for Indian investigator(s), local hospitality for the visiting USA investigator(s), a small amount for consumable or contingencies and institutional overheads at the prevailing rates are permissible. While computing travel cost please cover entire travel from the participating Indian institution to the participating USA institution by entitled class. Air travel is to be performed using Indian flag carrier to the extent possible. If the participating Indian institution has a guest house of acceptable standards, the visiting USA participant should be accommodated in the guest-house and guest-house charges debited to the project. Otherwise accommodation should be arranged in a clean and neat hotel at a maximum cost of Rs 2000/day. An appropriate provision should be made in the project budge at the time of submission. In addition to free accommodation, the visiting USA participant will also receive Rs.500 per day for other expenses. This expense should be reflected in the project budget. The expenses related to medical insurance cover for the Indian participant during his/her visit to USA under an ongoing project can be met from the project budget provided suitable provision as a separate budget item is made at the time of submission.
Joint research project is expected to draw upon strengths of both the collaborators using facilities and expertise available in both the places. Therefore this mode is normally not available for long term visits. Normal duration of an exchange visit is expected to be about two weeks. Visits longer than this period will need detailed justification.
6. COMPONENTS NOT ALLOWED OUT OF GRANT
The international collaboration under this programme is expected to complement the ongoing national efforts. Requirements related to manpower, permanent equipment and substantial component of consumable grant is expected to be available from corresponding domestic programme. Thus DST normally will not provide funds for manpower, permanent equipment, maintenance of equipment, books and periodicals, page charges etc. under this programme. In the same spirit, major requirements for consumable should primarily be derived from the domestic programme and only incremental component required due to international collaboration should be budgeted in the collaboration proposal. The contingency grant is limited to Rs. 15,000/year to cover the visa fees and medical insurance only.
7. MECHANISM OF IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING
Proposals, in prescribed format, complete in all respect and submitted through proper channel by the due date will undergo peer review process on the Indian as well as USA sides. Proposals found suitable by both the sides will be considered for funding. The peer review process normally takes about six months. Proposals selected for support should allow additional one month for financial scrutiny and approvals. To avoid processing delays, simultaneous submission to DST and NSF by respective investigators is strongly recommended.
The outcome of DST supported proposals will be monitored through review of Annual Progress Reports and Final Report.
CONTACT PERSONS
In DST
Dr. A. Mitra, Director, International Division, Department of Science & Technology, Technology Bhawan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi - 110 016
Phone No. : 6864642;
Fax No. : 6862418
E-mail :
In NSF:
Dr. Marjorie Lueck, India & Nepal Program, Division of International Programs, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230
Phone: 703-292-8707
Fax: 703-292-9176
Direct: 703-292-7229
E-mail:
8. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROPOSAL PREPARATION
8.1 Proposals must be securely stapled or bound and have 2.5 cm margin on all the four sides. The type size must be clear and legible. Pages must be of standard size; A-4 size (210 mm x 297 mm) is preferred.
8.2 Headings for the sections of the proposal are given below. There are page limits to some sections which are given in the brackets. The information should be given under each section and not in the form of annexes. Entire proposal is to be paginated giving consecutive numbers to pages.
· Cover Sheet (format attached)
· Project summery (one page )
· Table of contents (one page )
· Project description including results from previous DST support (15 pages, results from previous DST support not to exceed five pages )
· References cited
· Biographical sketch (2 pages per investigator )
· Budget, cumulative and annual, under appropriate budget heads along with justification (3 pages)
· Ongoing and pending research proposals by the investigators (format attached )
· List of facilities, equipment and other resources available for the project
8.3 Project description should contain a clear statement of work to be done and should include sub-sections on introduction, objectives, plan of work, experimental methods, specific activities to be undertaken by the Indian and USA collaborator(s), significance of expected outcome and its relation to present state of knowledge in the field. Project description should clearly bring out the need for collaboration and expected tangible gains for the two sides. Collaborations in which contribution of the US collaborator is limited to providing access to specialised facilities will enjoy low priority under this programme.
8.4 Biographical sketches are to be limited to two pages per senior investigator. The following information must be provided :
· Name, Date of birth, Name of the institution, whether belongs to SC/ST, MSc. Onward academic and professional career (with years and names of universities/institutions).
· List of up to 5 publications most closely related to the proposed project and 5 other significant
· Publications, including those accepted for publication.
· Patents, copyrights or software systems developed may be substituted for publication.
· The CV’s of the Research Fellows, if any, to be associated with the project.
8.5 Along with 10 copies of complete proposal document one copy each of the following documents is required:
· Endorsement from the head of the institution (Format attached)
· A letter from the US collaborator indicating that-
a) The proposal is prepared jointly;
b) He/she agrees with the technical contents of the proposal; and
c) He/she undertakes to submit counterpart proposal to NSF.
· List of suggested reviewers from India.
· In case of the proposals involving Recombinant DNA work, a certificate from the Institutional Biosafety Committee
· In case of the proposals involving research with human subjects, a certificate from the Institutional Ethical Committee.
Ten copies of the proposal with other required documents are to be mailed to,
The Under Secretary,
International Division,
Department of Science & Technology,
Technology Bhawan,
New Mehrauli Road,
New Delhi - 110 016
THE PROPOSALS NOT CONFORMING TO THE GUIDELINES AND INSTRUCTIONS AS ABOVE ARE LIABLE TO BE REJECTED IN INITIAL SCREENING.
DST-NSF S&T COOPERATION PROGRAMME
FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS
APPLICATION FOR JOINT RESEARCH PROPOSAL
1. Title of the Proposal :
2. Duration of the Proposal :
Expected date of commencement :
(Please allow at least 6 months of processing time beyond due date of submission).
3. Field of S&T Covered by the proposal :
Key words (five) for the proposal.
4. Project Investigators (PIs) & Collaborating Institutions
INDIAN USA
4.1 Name of the PI
Designation
Institutional Address
Telephone No.
Fax No.
4.2 Name of the Co-PI
Designation
Institutional Address
Telephone No.
Fax No.
DST-NSF S&T COOPERATION PROGRAMME
FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS
FORMAT FOR ENDORSEMENT FROM THE HEAD OF INSTITUTION
It is certified that
i) the Institution agrees to participate in this joint research project.
ii) the Institution shall provide infrastructure and necessary facilities for implementing the joint project.
iii) the Institution agrees to undertake financial and other administrative responsibilities for part of the project to be carried out at their institution.
iv) the back up support for manpower, consumable etc. is available to this project.
Signature and seal of the
Head of the Institution.
DST-NSF S&T COOPERATION PROGRAMME
FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS
FORMAT FOR LIST OF FACILITIES / EQUIPMENT / OTHER RESOURCES
List of Facilities to be extended to the Investigator(s) by the Implementing Institutions(s) for the Project
A. Infrastructure facilities (Tick the appropriate box)
Item / Yes / No / NR* / Item / Yes / No / NR*Workshop / Transportation
Water & Electricity / Administrative & Secretarial support
Standby power supply / Library facilities
Laboratory Space & Furniture / Computational Facilities
Air-conditioned Room for Equipment / Animal /Glass House
Telecommunication / Any other
NR : Not Required.
B. Available equipment and accessories to be utilised for the project
SL. No. / Name of Equipment and accessories(a) Available within Investigators Group
(b) Available in the Investigators Department
(c) Available elsewhere in the Institution or in the Region
DST-NSF S&T COOPERATION PROGRMME FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS
FORMAT FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION ON ONGOING AND PENDING PROPOSALS BY THE INVESTIGATORS.
A. INVESTIGATOR (S)
B. PROJECT TITLE
C. STATUS : Please tick appropriate box
C.1 Ongoing
Duration : From ------to ------
Total cost : Rs. ------
C.2. Proposed
D. Name of funding agency for ongoing project
E. Summary of the Project
F. Highlights of the achievements under ongoing project
DST-NSF S&T COOPERATION PROGRMME FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS
Budget Details
Budget head / 1st year / 2nd year / 3rd year / TotalInternational travel and the related domestic travel
Accommodation charges for the visiting U.S. scientist (No. of days x Rs…………….)
Per diem charges for the visiting U.S. scientist (No. of days x Rs. 500)
Contingencies (only medical insurance, visa fees @ Rs 15,000/yr.)
Institutional overhead @ 5%